Armor for ships.



G. W. DOWTHARD,

ARMOR FOR SHIPS.-

APPL lCATION FILED FEB. 9. 191a.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

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To all whom it may concern: I i

Be it known that 1,.GEORGE 'W. DOWTHARD, a citizen ofthe UnitedgSt-ates, residingat Lumberport, in the county of Harrison and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Ar-,

mor for Ships, o f which the following is a specification, reference beinghadto the accompanying drawings.

Thisinvention rel tes more particularly to; an armor especially designed and adapted for use in connection with battleships and it is an object of the,

invention to provide a novel andimproved armor whereby the hull of a ship is effectively protected against injury incident to the force of a projectile. v p

It is also an object of the. invention to provide-a novelfand improved armor which includes a plurality o shanks extending outwardly from; the hull of a ship with the outer ends thereof provided with heads;

said shanks being of varying lengths and the heads, of such diameter asto prevent -a projectile fromstrikingthehull proper of The novel features my invention will 7 hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that "my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed. to describe the same with reference to the accompanying" drawings wherein:

Figurejl is'a diagramml t1c view in top planillustratinganiembodiment of my invention; and V 1 r I Fig. 2'is a fragmentary view in, side elevation illustrating the, relative' positions of the shanksas hereinemployed.

As disclosediin the accompanying drawings HIdenotes the outline of a hull of a ship andextending outwardly therefrom are the shanksi and2of predetermined length.

andpreferably formed of hard steel, The

shanks .1 are of 'a length greater. than the shanks2. I The outer ends of thelsha'nks 2 are provided with-thefjheads 3 formed of .ARMOR For. snrr s.v J

carried by the shanks 2;

tocertain improvements in armor for ships and has relation- ,1 and 2.

i i specification of Letters Patent 18 V hardened steel and -preferably"eonica1 'in 1 form with the apicesthereofoutwardlydirested. The heads 3 are also ofsuch major diameters as to have the heads 3 of the shanks 1 partially overlyin theheads 3 Klso extending outwardly from the hull H are the tapered shanks 4:- The shanks 4 have their outer extremities terminating inwardly" of the heads 3 carried by the shorter shanks 2 and .are suitably positioned between the shanks 7 By this arrangement it will be perceived that it is substantially impossible for a projectile in its direct line'oftravel to come. into contact with thevhull H. The

projectile will strike the heads 3 eraee -h 7 shanks 1 and-2 and if not thrown by said p heads away from thehull H the projectile :will come into contact with theishanks.

Bythis means it will be at once self-evident that the hull H of the ship is effectively 7 protected against injury from projectiles;

It is also desired that a shield S be suitably'supported by the hull H and disposed entirely'around the ship at a'predetermined V point in advance of'the shanks 1 and said L shield preferably extends below the water "By this arrangement it will be at line. 7 once self-evident thatthe shanks 1, 2 and 4e are eflectively concealed from the enemy so. it will. be impossible for the enemy to determine what means are employed to protect the vessel against injury from the projectiles thrown thereagainst. The shield S may be provided with suitable'openings to permit the discharge of any of the guns car ried by the ship and to which the: shield would otherwise o-fier obstructions. It is also to be noted that the shield S is tobe provided with suitable openings to permit it desired observations. From the foregomg ships constructed in accordance with my inventionis particularly well adaptedfor use by reason of-the convenience and facility withwhich it maybe assembled and operat'ed and it willalso be obvious that myin v modification without departing from the; J 1' principles and spirit thereof and for this vention is susceptible of some change and reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to theprecise arrangement 11 shownin carrying-out my'inventionin p a ew t1ce except as herelnafter cla med; V

and formation ofthe several parts herein description; it is thought to be obviousithat an armor for I; I 1 00 I claim: 7 In combination with a hull of a ship, a plurality of shanks extending outwardly therefrom, heads carried by the outer ex-- tremities of the shanks, said heads being substantially conical in form With their apices outwardly directed, said shanks being of different lengths, the heads of the longer shanks'partially overlying the heads I of the shorter fshanks, and tapered shanks extending outwardly from the hull and terminating inwardly of the heads of the shorter of the first named shanks.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses. 15

GEORGE W. DOWTHARD.

Witnesses r J AMES MoCoLLUM, PHIL VHIOKS.

1 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

